75 years ago: “Business in Durango is booming, with a surge of Christmas buying bringing the daily volume above that of the same period in 1937, a survey of Durango stores shows.”

50 years ago: “For those who believe in superstition and old wives’ tales, today is that unworldly day when elves, pixies, leprechauns, hobgoblins and gremlins band together to cause all kinds of mishaps to us unfortunate humans. On any other day of the year, one might get by walking under a ladder but not on Friday the 13th.”

25 years ago: “Snowmaking equipment on Chapman Hill will be running every night as long as temperatures are between zero and 19 degrees. The equipment churned out a mound 5 feet deep and 40 feet long – enough snow for snow cats to start pushing it around the hill.”

Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.